India should curb Sri Lanka's aggression against our fishermen, Palaniswami to Modi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to curb Sri Lanka's "aggressive actions" against innocent Indian fishermen.

In a letter to Modi, which was released to the media here, Palaniswami said: "I strongly urge the Prime Minister to intervene personally in this sensitive livelihood issue of our fishermen and use all means at the command of the Government of India to curb the unacceptable aggressive actions of the Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk Bay, and to protect the life, limb and liberty of our innocent fishermen."

Palaniswami said the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India should be summoned, and the strong feelings of the Government of India and the Tamil Nadu government about the unprovoked firing on Indian fishermen conveyed.

His letter comes as an Indian fisherman was shot dead and another injured allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing in the Palk Straits.

According to Palaniswami, five fishermen in a mechanised fishing boat set sail for fishing from Rameswaram fishing base of Ramanathapuram District.

He said on Monday night when the Indian fishermen were fishing on the traditional waters in the Palk Bay, a fleet of four Sri Lankan Naval vessels surrounded the fishing boat and opened "unprovoked and indiscriminate fire" on the unarmed fishermen.

"Two fishermen received bullet injuries and while Britjo died while being brought to the shore, Saran has been admitted in hospital," Palaniswami said.

Referring to his letter of March 5 highlighting the "escalation in instances of harassment and apprehension" of Indian fishermen, Palaniswami said the killing of a fisherman marks a new low in the "inhuman and cruel act" of the Sri Lankan navy.

"In no circumstances can such unprovoked violence from the Sri Lankan side be tolerated. It is the duty of the Government of India and the government of Tamil Nadu to protect the interests and above all the life and liberty of our citizens," Palaniswami said.

--IANS

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